The Rowing Machine, Fettiplace Road, Witney

Image: © P L Chadwick Taken: 28 Aug 2011

This is a typical estate pub of the 1950's/1960's, and has had its ups & downs over the years. It has been part of the Hungry Horse chain of pub/restaurants for some years, but in December 2009 it re-opened under the direct control of the owners, brewery Greene King of Bury St. Edmunds in Suffolk. There were considerable improvements made at that time, including provision of a large restaurant. Despite that, there has been at least one change of landlord since then. In many ways, the middle of a housing estate is perhaps a strange place for a restaurant, as there would be no passing trade here. The pub's name is derived from Witney's famous former blanket making industry. Rowing is raising the nap on blankets. In Witney it was pronounced a bit like ploughing. At one time the pub was called the Flying Machine.

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